GODLY WISDOM – THE PATH TO ENDURING BLESSINGS
From The HeartPublish date: 02/20/2000
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud: "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
Proverbs 8:1-21 NIV
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."
Proverbs 8:32-36 NIV
Proverbs says that wisdom is crying out in the streets, from the hills, at the c
You must seek wisdom early and diligently. Don’t wander in the wilderness of foolishness – look for God early, before anything else. Press into Him and diligently and persistently go after His wisdom. Wisdom brings a free flow of knowledge and understanding to your life. Wisdom is applied knowledge. You can have knowledge, but if you don’t know how and where to use it, you are limited and restricted.
People get things backward. They seek after wealth and blessing instead of God. God is the source of both wisdom and blessing. When you follow after wisdom, then blessings follow after you. That is why God says that wisdom is better than wealth - gold, silver and precious stones – because wisdom brings about enduring wealth and righteousness into your life. Wisdom brings forth both spiritual and temporal blessings into your life. Without wisdom, your efforts are in vain. You can work hard all your life in your own strength and get absolutely nowhere. Wisdom takes the striving out of your life.
The very beginning of wisdom is to reverently fear God. Wise people fear God and honor Him and His word. In order to receive the benefits of wisdom, you must love God and hate evil. Pride and arrogance and twisted, perverted speech are in direct opposition to wisdom. When you love wisdom, you love righteousness and justice. You cannot rule or judge successfully without the wisdom of Almighty God. Rulers who oppress their people are fools. In order to rule prosperously and justly - kings, rulers, princes, nobles, judges, and governors desperately need God’s wisdom.
Even when the world preaches success principles, they are teaching principles that the word of God teaches, even though they try to leave God Himself out of it. The Word works - the only problem is that when God is left out of our “wisdom” we have only a partial “blessing”. If you seek God Himself and His wisdom, you will be blessed with enduring blessings in every area – spirit, soul and body!